Disciple (Sal x Travis)

Spilled Milk

TW for this chapter, child abuse, selfharm

Travis
I paid for my items and left the store for my walk home.

Approaching my house, I could see my fathers truck in the driveway. Maybe he just got home, thats why he couldnt get me from therapy. Maybe.

My fingers wrap around the cold door knob and I step onto our 'Phelps' welcome mat. I remove my shoes and set them on the rack.

The only light in the living room comes from the TV, where Mother sat in front of in her chair, knitting away, and Father sat on the couch.

Quietly, I make my way to the kitchen and set my things on the round wooden table.

"Travis?" Father says from the couch.

"Yes, sir?" I respond.

"Whatcha doin in there, bud?" I hear him stand.

My palms sweat as I open the fridge for the gallon of milk, "Just- grabbing some milk with my food."

He stands in the doorway and watches me, silently.

I take precaution with every step I take, pouring the milk, putting it back, carefully taking out the contents of the plastic bags and setting them on the counter.

My fathers eyes burn like lazers in my back, I glance at him as he gazes over the things I've laid out.

"Where did you get the money for those cookies?" He asks, fake cheerful.

"You gave me money this morning." I answer.

He shakes his head, "I always give you exact change for that pizza."

I look at him and look down, trying to think of an answer.

"Did you steal from me, Travis?"

I stare at my feet, "No-"

His hand squeezes my face and he forces me to look at him.

"You look at me when I'm speaking to you, understand?" He gets so close to my face I can feel his breath.

"Yes, sir."

"Did you steal from my wallet?"

"No, sir."

SMACK!

"Do NOT lie to me!" Father shouts, after deploying a hard closed fist blow to my cheek.

I hiss slightly and hold my hand to my face, theres no point in arguing, "I-I'm sorry, sir."

Another blunt to the head, "You disgust me Travis! How could you steal from your own FATHER!" He pushes me to the floor and i managed to catch myself, "After EVERYTHING I DO FOR YOU!" He shouts.

I feel the tears begin to bubble in my eyes as I stand up, using the countertop as leverage.

"I'm sorry." I whisper out one last time.

His face is dark pink and full of rage, he smacks the glass full of milk off of the counter, glass shattering and milk pooling across the floor.

Father grips my shoulder, "Clean this up." He pushes me back slightly, making his way back into the living room.

I stand still for a moment, taking a deep breath, and grab paper towels from the roll.

I get down on my hands and knees and begin picking up shards of glass. I pick up one that has a very jagged, sharp edge, hesitantly. I stick it in my coat pocket and begin wiping up the milk.

Tears drip from my eyelashes and onto the floor, I wipe those up too.

After throwing away the glass and towels I put the pizza in the freezer, Im not hungry, and go upstairs to my bedroom.

My bedroom has a bathroom across from it, so, after dumping my things onto my bed I go across the hall and lock the door.

I strip my pants and sit on the edge of the bath tub, staring at my thighs for a moment. Nothing I do in this house is right.

Because I'm a coward. And a freak. Disgusting. A devils child. A faggot.

I dig into my skin with the glass for every reason I count, and I bleed.

Like spilled milk.

Sal

Ash called Larry while we were playing Super Smash and asked if we wanted to hang out at the park with her and Todd.

"Uh, yeah, sounds dope." He told her.

"Dude, lets finish this game, though." I jabbed his side and gestured at the paused screen.

He swats at me and puts his finger to his lips and continues talking to Ashley, "Uh huh, yeah, we're on the way. Yeah. Bye."

I groan as loud as humanly possible, "We could have finished."

Larry already stood up and pulled a hoodie over his head, "Dude, come on. Do something social."  He starts lacing his shoes.

"DO soMEthInG soCiaL. Whatever, dick." I stand up and slide on my vans and walk towards the door that leads outside.

"You aint gotta mock me, bro." He grins and opens the door before me, stepping outside.

I laugh a little and shove him as I follow behind, "Says the one who used the word AINT."

I can feel him roll his eyes, "Shut up, fag."

"You shut up, fag."
.
.
.

"Dude, push me higher."

"I can't. Youre heavy."

Larry is in the swing high off his ass, getting me to push him.

"Im not heavy! Youre just small." He retorts.

"Youre heavy AND I'm small. Why can't I get pushed on the swing?"

Ashley laughs, flipping her hair, "I'll push you Sal."

Larry makes a face and looks at us, "Wait, the fuck? Whos gonna push me?"

Todd jumps in, "No one."

I laugh and hop on the swing between Todd and Larry, Ash pushing the bottom of my back, sending me into the air.

I close my eyes and grip the chains of the swing, laughing at the wind in my hair. 

"Hey. Isn't that Travis' house?" Todd asks, pointing at the two floor brick house in the distance.

Larry snorts, "So, thats why this park smells like shit. I thought it was me."

I glare at Larry and put my feet into the mulch to stop the swing, "Dude, chill. We don't know what his home life is like."

The three of them give me a very confused look.

"Since when were you and Travis close?" Ash asks, sitting criss cross on the ground.

"We aren't close." I say.

Larry snorts again, "Yeah, right. Sal gave him his cookies when we ran into him at the store."

"Oh?" Ashley raises an eyebrow at me.

"Sounds pretty close to me.." Todd adds.

"We aren't close!" I stare out at his house, thinking, "I just think.. maybe he acts the way he does for a reason."

The three of them collectively make their own sound of confused disgust and I roll my eyes and hop off the swing.

"Its getting late," I say, "Im gonna head home and check on dad."